I’ve read all of the Harry Potter novels (although, I’ve yet to finish the last one) and have seen all the Harry Potter films, yet the sexual preference of one of the main characters is a shocking twist that I nor Hardcore Harry Potter fanatics ever expected.
JK Rowling revealed at a book reading in front of over 2,000 fans at Carnegie Hall in New York that the headmaster of the wizarding school Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Albus Dumbledore, is actually gay. Who woulda thought? Rowling said that the character originally fell in love with the wizard Gellert Grindelwald, who, according to Rita Skeeter’s book The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore (read: not very reliable), is the second Most Dangerous Dark Wizard of All Time, under of course, Lord Voldemort.
In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows it was revealed that Grindelwald was an adolescent friend of Albus Dumbledore and that the two of them planned to establish a new world order, where wizards would rule over Muggles “for the greater good”. An argument culminated in a three-way battle between Albus, Aberforth Dumbledore, and Grindelwald in which Albus’ disabled sister Ariana was inadvertently killed by one of them. Grindelwald fled, fearing retribution, which ended their friendship. In 1945, Dumbledore defeated Grindelwald in what is described as the most intense wizarding battle ever to occur.
“Falling in love can blind us to an extent,” Rowling said of Dumbledore’s feelings. “He was horribly, terribly let down.” She referred to this love as Dumbledore’s “great tragedy.”
Rowling went on to reveal that she had recently read through Steve Kloves’ script for the upcoming movie adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and came across a scene in which Dumbledore was reminiscing about past loves. Rowling says she crossed out the passage and noted “Dumbledore is gay” in the margin.
The audience fell silent, and then after a moment, Carnegie Hall exploded into applause. Rowling said that if she had known that her admission would get that type of response, she would’ve revealed her thoughts on Dumbledore earlier.
Dumbledore is portrayed in the film adaptations by Richard Harris and Michael Gambon.
October 19th, 2007 at 9:42 pm
his sexual orientation isn’t a very crucial idea in the story by any means, but there isn’t remotely anything to even suggest that whole other dimension to dumbledore’s back story.
October 19th, 2007 at 10:05 pm
I fail to see how Dumbledore’s sexual orientation is of any relevance whatsoever to the stories. Weird that she would do that.
October 19th, 2007 at 10:24 pm
I am glad that the author decided to add a gay character. It brings a sense of truthful humanity to the story. Gay people are everywhere so why shouldn’t they be wizards too? It also helps young people like me to understand that we must accept one another, practice compassion and erase the hate. Dumbledor was a kind, good person but was also very powerful in his own way.
I like the fact that the author didn’t reveal his sexual orientation until the end. If it would have been known earlier, I think Harry would have had nothing but kind words to say and he would have accepted Dumbledor for who he is inside.
October 19th, 2007 at 10:50 pm
One in five, kidding. Honestly though, the outing may have nothing to do with the over all stories but a lot to the author who wrote them. It does add an extra dimension to the characters in the books. (which to me is a “crucial idea” as often revelations are only used to keep the plot a’ turnin”)
October 20th, 2007 at 12:19 am
To everyone who said this wasn’t relevant. Yes, it wasn’t ENTIRELY relevant, so she didn’t include it in the books. BUT, it proved that Dumbledore killed the person he loved for the GREATER GOOD, which emphasizes the themes of love and self-sacrifice and altruism in the book. Furthermore, it makes the HP universe more realistic, and promotes acceptance of homosexuality, thus pissing off ignorant and evil Christians. Which is the best part.
October 20th, 2007 at 2:52 am
LOL what do you mean fans not expecting it? And also? It was plain all through the books, although, very subtext, but it was there. And I do know of a large fanbase who took the Dumbledore/Grindelwald relationship for canon way before JKR revealed what the subtext meant. (Actually, after reading the book, I almost did, too, except that I didn’t think JKR would be brave enough to do more than ‘playing with the fire’ to put like that, by making wild insinuations but never ever revealing anything in black-and-white.) The thing that I didn’t like about this comment was that she as good as said that Dumbledore didn’t really have those views about ‘the greater good’, he just went along with Grindelwald because he was ‘blinded by love’. :(((
October 20th, 2007 at 7:22 am
And as it turns out, Harry was a male prostitute. Who knew?
October 20th, 2007 at 8:02 am
*grin* that’s hilarious, harry a male prostitute ? Don’t think so ;)
however, could be gay though, as everyone could be…
Rick
photographer
October 20th, 2007 at 8:48 am
Nick O: She was asked a question about weather Dumbledore ever had been in love. To answer that she had to reveal the fact that he was gay.
I’m one of those hardcore Harry Potter fans that the arcticles mentions, and actually, not all of us are that surprised. When I read Deathly Hallows I suspected that there was more than friendship between Dumbledore and Grindelwald, and I was right…
October 20th, 2007 at 8:50 am
burningpumpkins: He didn’t kill Grindelwald… he just sent him away to the wizard prison Numengard…. it’s in the seventh book, god damn it!
October 20th, 2007 at 9:21 am
I Love Dumbledor. I think this will create more acceptance in the world and more love hopefully.
October 20th, 2007 at 9:24 am
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peace out,
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October 20th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
I do think this helps with the characterization of Dumbledore, in a way… Not that ‘we are who we f**ck’, but it is a crucial character trait, innit?
Still, I’m off to back-reference this now.
October 20th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
Total disgrace, why in everything we do see and read there has to be someone gay, to be be pc? children read these books with innocence, but adults ruin it with this statement. Jk go back to bed and have think about what u have just said, idiot!!
October 20th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
lian: your response is a disgrace and a display of total ignorace. Why must there be gay characters in a lot of movies and books? I feel like if this were 50-60 years ago you’d be asking the same thing about Black people. The fact of the matter is that Most reputable sources and surveys have established that 10% of the world population is gay. So with hundreds of characters in the Harry Potter Universe, and only one out should be “the disgrace.”
October 20th, 2007 at 8:27 pm
Iain, The Harry Potter Series came from the mind of J.K. Rowlinig, and she was incredibly nice to share it with us. You make it sound like she doesn’t have the right to examine a character SHE created. Whether you are homophobic or full of pride, its not your place to dis her imagination.
October 21st, 2007 at 5:39 pm
welll if you people think about it
1 it has importance it adds another depth to the character
2 it wasn’t important enough to change the plot of the movie
3 not all christians hate gay people. my cousin is gay im fine with it.
4 ITS A BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 21st, 2007 at 7:41 pm
gb2/bed/, Iain.
Silly Christian.
Raptor Jesus is the true Savior.
October 21st, 2007 at 10:46 pm
does this mean dumbledore is gay in the movies, too? what a buzzkill.
October 26th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
An elderly man lots of friends never any mention of girlfriends wifes or lovers…I didnt give Dumbledores sexual prefrence any thought even though as soon as it was mentioned it made sence…does it effect the way we love the characters in the book no are we that narrow minded that we are going to never read the books again watch the films…I was more upset that snape never got to be finally and truly excepted by the Order. gay or not gay it makes no difference to me
November 11th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
Lol, I find it funny that certain posters are whining about this not being ‘relevant’. Is telling who Neville married not ‘relevant’ also? But, wait. Dumbledore was in a homosexual relationship as opposed to Neville being straight, someone finding Dumbledore’s love history not ‘relevant’ because he was gay, well that person is obviously homophobic.
My question to those saying this, would you be taking it this way if Dumbledore had loved Mcgonagoll or a female?
March 11th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Ah, the genius and deceit of authors. Absolutely nothing in the novels suggests anything about Dumbledore’s sexual preference. The fact that he isn’t married certainly doesn’t point to it. How many of the teachers are married? Are they all gay? I’ll tell you exactly why Rowling did this. It was for fanfare and ratings. Her book sales will go up and will reach an audience that night not have eagerly reached for them otherwise. If this assertion about gay Dumbledore is true, why not come right out and say it in the books? I believe it was a marketing scheme she or her agent came upt with after the books were finished. Tell you one thing, I’m disappointed in her and we won’t be seeing the last two movies if there’s a reference to it at all. Parents have to make a stand somewhere.